Dear Family,
This past weekend was probably the best conference I've been to, just like President Monson said. Our Stake center was filled with missionaries for all the sessions. The most popular talks among us were, of course, Elder Bednar and Elder Holland. The missionaries all but stood up and cheered to hear those things come over the conference pulpit. When Elder Bednar spoke of how every member should be focused on finding people for the missionaries to teach, there were a lot of excited missionaries.
After a few fist pumps of my own, it struck me how much more pressure that really puts on us as missionaries. Especially, when the members go through so much effort to find, they are going to want results from the missionaries. Of course we are equipped with everything we need to teach the basics of the restored gospel, and we are better trained in following the Spirit than past generations, but that doesn't mean every single person the members find are waiting to get wet. But for now, we don't have much to worry about. For the past month we've had but one member referral.
After a few fist pumps of my own, it struck me how much more pressure that really puts on us as missionaries. Especially, when the members go through so much effort to find, they are going to want results from the missionaries. Of course we are equipped with everything we need to teach the basics of the restored gospel, and we are better trained in following the Spirit than past generations, but that doesn't mean every single person the members find are waiting to get wet. But for now, we don't have much to worry about. For the past month we've had but one member referral.
We finally gave up all of the people we are teaching in Hipseria and Victorville to the English elders. They've got all the teaching appointments from here on out, and will end up leading all of them into the waters of baptism. Of course, I'm most grateful for the opportunity we had to find them and get them progressing, but now it feels like we're back to square one: a thimble-size teaching pool and a finding pool of people who have already made up their mind to not listen to the missionaries.
To top all that off, we updated our report on all the Samoan people up in Hisperia and Victorville. This time we included more background and the needs these people are facing. The idea is to get the leadership in all the English units to jump on all these problems and help these people out. I hope I fed enough information into the report to catch the eye of Stake presidents and bishops. With the change in our area, our workload has doubled and doesn't give us time to face these other problems that are such a far distance off. These Samoan people have been neglected for far too long and somebody needs to do something about it are they'll all go astray. It needs to be taken care of one way or the other. If the English units can't do it, they will need a unit of their own.
Other than that, not much is changing. We got to go to the temple this morning, and had a wonderful experience. Thank you all for your continued prayers and support. Know that the Lord's hand is in all things.
Love,
Elder Freeman
